Immigrant students in HISD remain undeterred in applying for U.S. colleges

HISD Superintendent Richard Carranza speaks at the district's third Dream Summit, which helps students with college application and financial aid processes, at the Hattie Mae White Educational Support Center on Dec. 9, 2017, in Houston. less

HISD Superintendent Richard Carranza speaks at the district's third Dream Summit, which helps students with college application and financial aid processes, at the Hattie Mae White Educational Support Center ... more

Antonio Arellano leads former HISD students in a panel discussion at HISD's third-annual Dream Summit.
The event aims to help HISD DACA recipients, visa holders, permanent residents, refugees, and asylum grantees along with their families. less

Antonio Arellano leads former HISD students in a panel discussion at HISD's third-annual Dream Summit.
The event aims to help HISD DACA recipients, visa holders, permanent residents, refugees, and asylum ... more

Photo: Steve Gonzales, Houston Chronicle

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Former HISD student Maykd Garcia talks during a panel discussion at HISD's third-annual Dream Summit. Students at the Saturday event could speak with district representatives who helped them learn more about financial aid requirements and guide them through the college application process. less

Former HISD student Maykd Garcia talks during a panel discussion at HISD's third-annual Dream Summit. Students at the Saturday event could speak with district representatives who helped them learn more about ... more

Photo: Steve Gonzales, Houston Chronicle

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Former HISD student Kleyder Sanchez talks during a panel discussion at HISD's third-annual Dream Summit to assist students with the college application and financial aid processes at the Hattie Mae White Educational Support Center Saturday, Dec. 9, 2017, in Houston.
The event aims to help HISD DREAMers, DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) recipients, visa holders, permanent residents, refugees, and asylum grantees along with their families. Students will have an opportunity to speak with district representatives who will help them learn more about financial aid requirements and guide them through the application process. ( Steve Gonzales / Houston Chronicle ) less

Former HISD student Kleyder Sanchez talks during a panel discussion at HISD's third-annual Dream Summit to assist students with the college application and financial aid processes at the Hattie Mae White ... more

Photo: Steve Gonzales, Houston Chronicle

Image 6 of 6

Former HISD students Kleyder Sanchez and Jaquelin Sanchez talk during a panel discussion at HISD's third-annual Dream Summit to assist students with the college application and financial aid processes at the Hattie Mae White Educational Support Center Saturday, Dec. 9, 2017, in Houston.
The event aims to help HISD DREAMers, DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) recipients, visa holders, permanent residents, refugees, and asylum grantees along with their families. Students will have an opportunity to speak with district representatives who will help them learn more about financial aid requirements and guide them through the application process. ( Steve Gonzales / Houston Chronicle ) less

Former HISD students Kleyder Sanchez and Jaquelin Sanchez talk during a panel discussion at HISD's third-annual Dream Summit to assist students with the college application and financial aid processes at the ... more

Photo: Steve Gonzales, Houston Chronicle

Immigrant students in HISD remain undeterred in applying for U.S. colleges

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Sisters Fereshte, 19, and Fayezeh Karimi, 15, learned something Saturday that could forever alter their future: Even as refugees from Iran, they can still apply to college and for financial aid in the United States.

"With good grades, we really can pursue our education," the elder sister said. "It's not impossible."

Superintendent Richard Carranza emphasized the importance of higher education to the high school students who attended the Houston Independent School District's third annual Dream Summit, which helps students of all immigration statuses plan for college. This year's workshop comes at a particularly tense time as the Supreme Court last week allowed President Donald Trump's so-called Muslim ban to go into full effect and as Congress has yet to pass a solution for young adults who were granted temporary reprieve from deportation under the rescinded Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, program. All the uncertainty swirls as college application season is about to begin in full swing.

As immigrants, the hundreds of students at the summit are part of the American dream, and their personal goals must be valued, Carranza said.

"A dream is the cornerstone on which this country was founded," he said.

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The elder Karimi sister, a sophomore, said she dreams of becoming a cyber security expert. It would allow her to apply her love of coding to an increasingly important industry. Her younger sister, a freshman, hopes to one day save lives as a cardiologist.

As refugees, both are concerned with how long they will be allowed to stay in the U.S.

The national immigration landscape has become increasingly filled with rhetoric and policies that leave the Karimi sisters and thousands of others in fear.

David, 16, who asked not to be named in full because he is undocumented, has already applied to three state colleges.

Recently arriving from Nigeria with his family, the high school senior said he dreams of one day becoming an airline pilot through which he will be able to see the world.

On Saturday, he scribbled notes in an attendee pamphlet on how to apply for scholarships.

"Apply every week. If you don't apply, you won't get the funds," said Angela Conley, an academic program manager for the Emerge HISD program.

Conley noted that undocumented students, even those with top grades, often shy away from seeking help in applying for colleges and universities, unsure of whether they would qualify due to their legal status.

After speaking to a packed room about meeting scholarship deadlines and fine-tuning personal essays, Conley led David over to members of the immigration advocacy group, FIEL, where he could learn more about his rights as an undocumented individual as he completes his high school education.